Each of our lives is time-bound. It is said that human lives are decided by Bhagwan Brahma at the time of birth. Many of us desire to live for a long time, if not forever. We can see examples of Asuras all through our Puranas who desired immortality. They requested boons which they thought would make it difficult for anyone to kill them; in other words, grant them immortality.

The reality, though, is that the earth is called Mrutyuloka because death is certain for anyone who is born here. However, some people are blessed with long life, close to immortality.

Chiranjeevi is a combination of the words ‘Chiran’ meaning long and ‘Jeevi’ which means living or life. A Chiranjeevi is one who is blessed to live till the end of this Kalpa on the earth. They would be physically present on the earth till the time Kaliyuga comes to an end and Pralaya is caused by Mahadev opening His third eye.

Here’s a list of eight persons, called Ashta-Chiranjeevis, who have been given the boon to inhabit earth till the end of this Yuga:

1) Maharishi Veda Vyasa: Born as Krishna Dwaipayana to Rishi Parashar and Satyavati, Maharishi Vyasa compiled the Vedas, and Puranas and narrated the Mahabharata, as witnessed by him, to Shri Ganesha who wrote it down. He is said to be an Anshavatar (some say an avatar) of Shri Vishnu. Although he is counted as one of the Chiranjeevis, he walked the earth only till the beginning of Kaliyuga.

2) Shri Parashurama: He was the sixth avatar of Shri Hari Vishnu born to Rishi Jamadagni. He was Mahadev‘s bhakt and was also known for his short temper. He is called Parashurama because he wields an axe gifted to him by none other than Bhagwan Shiva Himself. He learnt the art of warfare from Mahadev and acquired knowledge of all the astras (divine weapons) and shastras (weapons of warfare).

He was the first Brahma-Kshatriya and one who not just vowed but in fact, actually rid the world of Kshatriyas at one point in time. He was the Guru of both Bhishma and Karna. Shastras say that He would be back at the end of Kaliyuga as the teacher of Shri Vishnu’s final avatar Kalki.

3) Shri Hanuman: The son of Kesari and Anjana. He is called the son of Pawan Deva who carried him to the womb of Anjana. He is said to be an Anshavatar of Bhagwan Shiva. He is a great devotee of Prabhu Ram and dedicated His life to the service of the latter.

He lived through the Tretayuga serving Shri Ram and decided to reside on the earth where Shri Ram would be remembered, till the end of time. He visited His brother Bhima during Dwaparyuga and was present in the Dhvaja of the Pandavas camp.

4) Rishi Markandeya: Markandeya, son of Rishi Mrgandu, was wise, intelligent and showed prodigious religious inclination. He was, however, not to have a long life. When the time for his death, at the age of sixteen, arrived Yama and his Dhoots came to take the boy away. Markandeya, wanting to serve his parents, would not agree to go and fell at the feet of Bhagwan Shiva.

It is said that he held the Shiva Linga tightly such that Yama had to throw His pasha (noose) around the Linga as well. Pleased with his devotion, Bhagwan granted him immortality. It was Rishi Markandeya who composed the Maha Mrutyunjay Mantra that grants immunity from akalmrityu (untimely death).      

5) Chakravarti Mahabali: The Asura king was known to be a just ruler who was loved by his people. He was the grandson of Prahlad and courageous as well as devotional. Fearing his growing power, Indra seeks the help of Shri Vishnu to stop the might of Bali.

Bhagwan Vishnu took the Vamana avatar and sent Bali down to Patal Loka with His third footstep. Bali was granted the boon to visit his people once every year till the end of this Kalpa. The day Chakravarti Mahabali comes back to visit his people is celebrated as Onam in Kerala. 

6) Vibishana: The younger brother of Ravana who was on the side of Prabhu Ram during the war between the two. It is said that Prabhu Ram blessed Vibhishana with immortality in return for his help. He ruled Lanka after Ravana’s death.      

7) Kripacharya: He was the Kul Guru of the Kurus of Hastinapur from the rule of Shantanu. He is the son of Rishi Shardwan and the twin of Drona’s wife Kripi. He and his sister were born when the semen of the great Rishi dropped on a weed after an Apsara sent by Indra failed to seduce him into submission.

Kripacharya was the first teacher of Pandavas and Kauravas before Dronacharya took over. He was not just intelligent but also impartial towards his wards. He is believed to be immortal because he wasn’t born from a womb. Shastras say he will be one of the Saptarishis of the eighth Manvantara.

8) Ashwatthama: The Son of Dronacharya and Kripi, became the ruler of the half kingdom acquired by Drona from Raja Dhrupad. He is a Brahma-Kshatriya who was well-versed both in the shastras and the art of warfare. He was a close friend of Duryodhan.

He is the only Chiranjeevi whose immortality is not a boon but a curse. He broke all rules of war to kill the five sons of Draupadi and even used the Brahmastra against Abhimanyu’s yet-to-be-born child. Shri Krishna punished him for this cruel act by taking away the gem on his forehead, which Ashwathama was born with. The scar and pain would remind him of his gruesome act forever. He would have to live in misery and pain till the end of time.

Immortality may be a boon or curse depending on what one goes through. Most humans not just desire a long life but are scared of death too. Whether or not one gets to live a long life it is more important to make the years of our life count.

What Shri Adi Shankara could achieve in a short span of life, many saints couldn’t even if they lived long. One of the important things to learn from the Chiranjeevis is that devotion, intellect and humility open the doors to a life of happiness and blessing; else life is an endless misery with the pain of our misdeeds haunting us forever, like Ashwatthama!!!

(Featured Image Source: whyhindu.com)